Pilot Blair and wife Morag downsize to the countryside

Jun 29 2008 Raymond Hainey

A high-flying couple have touched down in a rural paradise - and don't ever want to leave.

Airline pilot Blair Watson and his wife Morag, a flight service manager, spend most of their working lives on the move.

So when they were looking for a new home, they wanted countryside peace and quiet a world away from their busy careers - but also needed an easy commute to the airports of the central belt.

Despite travelling so much, Blair, 41, and Morag, 40, have always kept a home in their native Scotland but wanted to downsize from their house in St Andrews.

The couple bought a three-bedroom Hopetoun-style home in Redrow's Graemeslea development in Aberuthven, near Auchterarder, Perthshire.

The house, designed with the traditional homes of America's New England in mind, is one of just 33 homes on the site.

Morag said: "This area is very peaceful and beautiful. There are also good links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, which is important for us.

"It is a lovely house and I like the New England look. It's finished well. Our previous homes were big houses. We were looking for something smaller but still spacious. It's perfect for when we're in Scotland."

The couple also needed space for Blair's two sons - McKenzie, 13, and 12-year-old Gregor - who are regular visitors, which ruled out the traditional downsizers' choice of a flat.

She said: "It was important for us to have a home in Scotland for Gregor and McKenzie to come to."

Graemeslea offers stunning views towards the foothills of the Highlands but is only 15 minutes from Perth and less than an hour to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The development features a range of four and five-bed houses and a handful of the Hopetoun homes.

Morag said: "It is smaller but there is a considerable amount of space inside."

Nearby Auchterarder has a wide range of shops, from chain-store supermarkets to antique shops.

Just one Hopetoun house remains, with a price of £188,000, while the four and five-bed homes range from £325,000 to £409,000.

For more details, phone 0845 676 0423 or log on to www.redrow.co.uk